Shoulder protector, strap holder, and shoulder pad



9, 1954 M. AXSOM 2,671,223

SHOULDER PROTECTOR, STRAP HOLDER, AND SHOULDER PAD Filed Oct. 27, 1951FIG. 4

. IN VEN TOR. MONA L. AXSOM Patented Mar. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENTOFF ICE Mona L. Axsom, San Diego, Calif.

Application October 27, 1951,. Serial No. 253,527

-5 Claims. 1

My invention relates to a shoulder protector, strap holder and shoulderpad and the'objects'of my invention are:

First, to provide a shoulder protector, strap holder and shoulder pad.of this class Which'may be very readily removed 'and'installed in adress or other garment and accurately maintains itself in properposition.

Second, to provide a shoulder protector, strap holder, and shoulder padof this class having a novel folding structureadapted topermit theinsertion of brassiere shoulder straps therebetween providin a cushionbeneath said shoulder strap whereby said straps do not recess themselvesin the shoulder of the wearer.

Third, to provide a shoulder protector, strap holder, and shoulder padof this class having a novel holding structure detachably connected withthe inner side of the garment, adapted to receive shoulder strapsintermediate the folding structure and having a substantially rigidmemoer internally of the lower folded portion beneath the position ofshoulder straps providing distribution of the pressure caused by suchstraps which prevents recessing of the straps in the Wearers shoulder.

Fourth, to providea shoulder protector, strap holder, and shoulder padof this class in which the folding structure thereofprcvides for theaccurate maintenance of the p'ads shape and also provides for thesup-port of shoulder straps without recessing the upper shoulder'padportion.

Fifth, to provide a shoulder -pad of this class which protects thewearers shoulders against injury from the recessing of shoulder strapsinto the shoulders of the wearer and promote comfort to persons whonecessarily wear their shoulder straps very tight, and

Sixth, to provide a shoulder protector strap holder and shoulder pad ofthis class which is very simple and economical of construction,efficient in use and which will not readily deteriorate or becomedamaged.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, myinvention consists of certain novel features of construction,combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafterdescribed in detail as particularly set forth in the appended claimsreference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the charactersof reference thereon forming part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of my shoulder protector, strap holderand shoulder pad in fiat position.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional viewthereof showing the garmentconnection strap in relative position to the shoulder pad.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line33 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is an end elevational view ofmy shoulder protector, strapholder and shoulder *pad in curved position.

Similar characters of reference refer *tos'imilar parts and portionsthroughout the several views of the drawing.

The pad connection strips I and 2, pad envelope 8, padding l, shoulderstrap'5, plate "6, padding I, plate retaining strip 8 and the fasteners9,"I0,II, and I2 constitute the principal parts'and-portions of myshoulder protectonstrap holder and shoulder pad.

The pad connection strips I and '2 are removably secured together by thefasteners '9, Ill, II which are provided with male and female portionsea, 9b, Ilia, Ifib, I I-aand II b respectively. These pad connectionstrips I and'Zare of fiexible fabric material. The pad connection stripI is adapted to be secured on the inner side-ofa garment at the shoulderportion thereof. Strip 2 is fixed to the pad envelope '3 which is afol'ded envelope having padding 4 therein. As shown in Figure 1 by dashlines A the pad when inunfolded position is substantially'the shape-of atrapezoid and when in folded position as shown in Figure 2 of thedrawing the apex portions 3a are held together by means of a fastener lzwhich is similar to the hereinbeforedescribed fasteners 9to IIinclusive. The-shoulderstrapb i -interposed between the folded portionof my shoulder pad and rests on the upper side of the lowermost foldedportion above the plate 6 which is retained in fixed relationship withthe bottom 3b of the envelope 3 by means of the retainer strip 8 all asshown best in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing. Below this plate 6 is thepadding l which is also retained by the plate retainer strip 8 shownbest in Figure 3 of the drawing.

The operation of my shoulder protector, strap holder and shoulder pad issubstantially as follows:

My shoulder pad is fixed to the inner side of a garment shoulder bymeans of the fasteners 9, I0, and II in connection with the strip Iwhich is sewed or otherwise secured to the garment'itself, and the padis maintained at its folded portion substantially flush with the wearersshoulder. As shown in Figure 4 of the drawing the pad is curved at thefolded portion 30 and is shaped to substantially conform with the upperportion of the wearers shoulders. The shoulder strap 5 for supportingbrassieres or other garments rests intermediate the upper and lowerfolded portions 3d and 3e and bears above the plate 6 which is asemi-rigid plate arranged parallel to the length of the wearers shoulderevenly distributing the load imposed by the strap 5 over a considerablearea of the wearers shoulder and preventing the strap 5 from recessingthe wearers shoulder or causing any injury. The padding 1 beneath theplate 6 provides a soft bearing for the distribution of the Weight bythe plate 5 on the wearers shoulder. It will be noted that the entirepad may be removed by disconnecting the fasteners 9, l0, and II and maybe placed in another garment when changing clothes. It will be notedthat the fastener l 2 must be disengaged for placement or removal of thestrap 5 in the position as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combinationand. arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited tothis particular construction, combination and arrangement but desire toinclude in the scope of my invention the construction, combination andarrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a shoulder pad, a folded pad comprising upper and lower folds,said lower fold having a narrow, fiat, semi-rigid plate rigidly securedtherein extending substantially across said lower fold, said plate to beworn substantially parallel to the length of the wearers shoulder, saidpad receiving a shoulder strap between said folds and bearing on saidplate.

2. In a shoulder pad, a folded pad comprising upper and lower folds,said lower fold having a narrow, flat, semi-rigid plate rigidly securedtherein extending substantially across said lower fold, said plate to beworn substantially parallel to the length of the wearers shoulder, saidfolds being locally separable to receive a shoulder strap between saidfolds and bearing on said plate, connecting means for supporting saidpad in a garment shoulder comprising a first strip secured to theuppermost fold of said pad, a second strip secured to the upper innerportion of a garment, and fasteners for fixing the said first strip tosaid second strip.

3. In a shoulder protector, a strap holder and shoulder pad, a padenvelope having padding therein being folded at its diagonal medial lineproviding superimposed upper and lower folds, the folded edge of saidpad disposed at the outermost portion of a wearers shoulder, said foldsbeing locally separable to receive a strap interposed between said foldsof said pad to bear upon the upper side of the lowermost fold, asubstantially rigid narrow plate extending across a me dian line of saidfolds, said plate to be worn parallel to the length of the wearersshoulder and being located within said lowermost fold, padding securedto and below said plate and located within the confines of saidlowermost fold of said pad.

4. In a shoulder protector, a strap holder and shoulder pad, a padenvelope having padding therein being folded at its diagonal medial lineproviding superimposed upper and lower folds, the folded edge of saidpad disposed at the outermost portion of a wearers shoulder, a strapinterposed between the said folds of said pad and bearing upon the upperside of the lowermost fold, a substantially rigid plate in saidlowermost fold having padding below the same and within the confines ofthe area of said folds of said pad, and a plate retainer strip locatedabove said plate, and being sewed to the lowermost portion of said padand adapted to hold said plate in position.

5. In a shoulder protector, a strap holder and shoulder pad, a padenvelope having padding therein being folded at its diagonal medial lineproviding superimposed upper and lower folds, the folded edge of saidpad disposed at the outermost portion of a wearer's shoulder, a strapinterposed between the said folds and bearing upon the upper side of thelowermost fold, a substantially rigid plate in said lowermost foldhaving padding below the same and within the confines of the area ofsaid folds of said pad, a plate retainer strip above said plate, andbeing sewed to the lowermost portion of said pad and adapted to holdsaid plate in position, and a fastener securing the ends of said foldsof said pad toether.

MONA L. AXSOM.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,421,736 Wein June 3, 1947 2,422,834 Kleinman June 24, 19472,441,482 Gerry May 11, 1948 2,519,401 Rockwell Aug. 22, 1950

